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W. E. HAMMOND & J. G. MERRIAM'.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS.

Patented Apr. 16. 1889.

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W'ILLIAM E. HAMMOND AND JOSEPH G. MERRIAM, ()F MERIDEN, CONNEG TICUT, ASSIGNORS TO ED\VARD hllLLER & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,557, dated April 16, 1889..

Application filed October 15, 1888. Serial No. 288,125. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Ee it known that we, 'WILLIAM E. HAM- MOND and, JOSEPH G. MERRrAM, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Con necticut, have invented a new Improvement in Suspension Devices for Lamps; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and thelctters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1.,a side view of a suspension device embodying our invention; Fig. 2,a front view of the same; Fig. 3, a top view of the same;

Fig. 4, a detached view illustrating the operation of the pawl; Figs. 5 and 6, side and front views of amodification of the inventionl This invention relates to an improvement in that class of suspending devices for lamps and like purposes in which a drum is arranged upon a stationary axis in the frame, but so 1 that the drum may revolve on the axis, the said drum containing a spring, one end of which is attached. to the stationary axis and the other to the drum, so that the revolution of the drum in one direction will wind the spring, and then the reaction of the spring will cause the drum to revolve in the opposite direction. To the drum a cord or chain is attached by one end and so as to be wound thereon and the lamp or whatever it may be desired to suspend is attached to the other end, so that as the thing so attached is pulled downward it draws the cord from the drum, imparting the winding revolution thereto, and so that when free the reaction of the spring will .rewind or aid in rewinding the cord upon the drum, a common suspending device for lamps and like purposes. The weights of lamps or chandeliers to be sus pended vary considerablythat is to say, in some cases the frame and founts themselves are much heavier than in other cases. Again, in some cases shades are employed, and in others not. This makes a great variation. Again, the same fixture is variable, owing to the variation in the quantity of oil. This is especially the case in the larger class of lamps now coming into general use, and this variation is so great that a spring which is adapted to counterbalance the fixture when the fount is full, and so as to hold the lamp suspended at any desired elevation when the oil has been consumed, the weight is so greatly re- 5 5' duced that the reaction of the spring overcomes the reduced weight, so that the lamp will rise and can only be retained at its highest elevation. To overcome these dilj'iiculties various devices have been applied, in some cases to produce friction upon the druun of an extent equal to the possible variation in the weight of the fixture or thing suspended. In other cases positive locks have been provided with connections therefrom to some convenient point below, and so that by an independent action of the operator the drum would be released, so as to permit the up-an(ldo\vn movement, and when the desired point at tained the interlocking is again permitted, so as to hold the fixture at that changed eleva tiou. A positive lock is desirable, because with such a lock the suspension device is adapted for the greatest range of variation in weight.

The object of our invention is to produce a locking of the drum, but so that the looking or unlocking may he produced without connection from the locking device independent of the thing suspended or the cord or chain by which the said thing is suspended; and the invention consists in combining with the spring-actuated drum of a suspension device a pawl arranged so as to receive a revolution from the revolution of the drum, but more rapidly than the revolution of the drum, the said pawl also arranged to swing under the action of centrifugal force imparted to it by the said revolution, and which pawl, when free, is adapted to engage a stationary stop 0 on the frame, but from which it disengagcs under the centrifugal force imparted, as before mentioned, and so that when the pawl is disengaged the drum is free to revolve; but when the pawl is engaged the drum is locked, so as to prevent its revolution.

In illustrating the invention we show it with the drum arranged upon a horizontal axis, and so that the drum revolves in a vertical plane; but it will be understood that the inr00 vention is applicable to the arrangement of the drum in a horizontal plane, both arrangements of the drum being common in this class of suspending devices.

A represents the frame, to the upper end of which a suitable suspending loop or hanger, B, is attached, and by which the frame may be hung to the ceiling or at any desirable point in the usual manner for this class of de vices.

C represents the spring-dru m, which is arranged upon a stationary axle, D, in the usual manner, the said drum carrying a spring coiled within it, (not shown,) one end of which is attached to the stationary axle and the other to the drum in the usual manner for this class of drums and too well known to require description or illustration. On the drum a cord or chain, a, is arranged in the usual manner, and to which the lamp or thing to be suspended is attached,also in the usual manner, and so that by drawing down the cord the drum will be revolved and the spring wound, but so that when the thing suspended is raised or permitted to rise the reaction of the spring in the drum will cause the revolution of the drum in the opposite direction in the usual manner.

Upon the drum is a gearwheel, Ein this case a bevel-gearwhich works into a corresponding beveLpinion, F, on the end of a vertical shaft, G, which shaft G is supported in suitable bearings. The pinion F is of much less diameter than the gear E, and so that a single revolution of the gear E will impart numerous revolutions to the shaft G, and so that the revolution of the shaft G will be rapid, even under a slow revolution of the drum (1.

II represents a pawl, which is hung to the upper end of the shaft G, as at I, and so as to swing in a vertical plane--that is, in a plane with the axis of the shaft G, to which the pawl is hung. The pawl is counterbalanced, but yet is so weighted that it normally rests in its down position or nearest position to the shaft, and as seen in Fig. 1.

On the frame a stationary stop, J, is arranged, against which the pawl will rest in its normal position, and as seen in Fig. 3, and the pawl so resting against the stop resists the reaction of the spring in the drum.

The counter-balance, as here represented, is in the form of a weight, K, which counterbalance is just sufficient to permit the pawl to rest in its normal position, as seen in Fig. l, but yet so that under a'slight centrifugal force imparted to the shaft and the pawl the pawl will be thrown outward, as represented in Fig. 4, and so as to take it out of control of the stop J, in which position it is free to revolve. The part standing in the normal position as seen in Fig. 1, if the cord or chain be drawn from the drum, so as to impart revolution thereto, that revolution will be communicated to the shaft G, and the revolution of the shaft G- is in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 3,so as to take the pawl away from its stop J, and as the revolution of the shaft G is so much more rapid than the revolution of the drum C the result is to cause the pawl H to fly outward, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 4, and make its path of revolution outside the stop J, and so that the continued rotation of the drum will continue the rapid rotation of the shaft G, and by centrifugal force hold the pawl so that its path will be outside the stop J so long. as the revolution of the drum is continued; but when the rotation of the drum ceases the centrifugal force holding the pawl will be removed and the pawl will fall into its normal path, and the reaction of the spring will impart to the shaft G a return rotation until the pawl is brought into contact with the stop J, where the drum will be locked, and thus hold the drum with the chain or cord drawn therefrom. hen it is desired to rewind the cord or chain upon the drum, a slight downward pull is given to the cord, so as to advance the pawl from its stop, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3, and then left free. The reaction of the spring will cause the drum to revolve in the opposite direction, which opposite direction will be imparted to the pawl; but before the pawl can reach the stop J the revolution of the shaft G will have become so rapid that the centrifugal force will throw the pawl out of range of the stop J, and so that the ascent or rewinding may continue to any desired point; but when that rewinding ceases, then the pawl drops, as before, and is brought into engagement with its stop J, when the drum is again securely locked.

\Ve have thus far described the invention under the assumption that the power of the spring is greater than the maximum weight of the thing to be suspended, which is the general condition of the spring; but the spring may be of a power somewhat less than the minimum weight, so that the thing suspended,if free, would descend. In this case the construction is not changed. The pawl will simply rest against the opposite side of the stopin other words, simply a reverse operation-so that the device is adapted to a spring which is capable of raising the thing suspended without assistance, and also to a spring which is incapable of holding the thin g suspended, but will simply aid in raising the thing suspended. In either case there is an interlocking of the spring-drum, so as to prevent its rotation when once interlocked; but in either case the pawl is disengaged by centrifugal force imparted to it from the revolution of the drum, and engaged when that centrifugal force is reduced or ceases.

More than one stop may be provided against which the pawl will rest, so that it may engage or disengage within less than a whole revolution. For illustration, we have represented a second step, L, opposite the stop .T, both stops being stationary on the frame, and so that the pawl may engage with the one or the other, and thus produce the locking in, at most, one half-revolution of the pawl. WVe find in practice that less than half-revolution of the pawl is sufficient to produce the throwing out of the pawl by centrifugal force.

In the representation of the pawl as arranged upon a vertical shaft, and so as to revolve in a horizontal plane, we believe we have illustrated the best arrangement; but our invention is not to be understood as limited to a pawl arranged to revolve in a horizontal plane, as it may be arranged to revolve in a vertical plane, as seen in 5 and 6, in which the shaft G, carrying the pawl, is arranged horizontally, and the pawl H hung in the shaft, so as to swing in a vertical plane, the outward swing being produced by centrifu gal force to take the pawl outside the stop so that it may be free to'revolve;but yet when the centrifugal force is removed the pawl will drop and come against the stop, as seen in Fig. 6. In this arrangement two pawls are desirable, so that normally one will stand above and the other below. That one below will normally stand out of line of the stop, while the upper pawl will have fallen into line with the stop; but under centrifugal force the falling of the pawl as it reaches its up position will be prevented, and the pawls may continue their revolution so long as the revolution of the drum is continued. Two pawls in this case are desirable, for the reason that if a single pawl only is employed nearly a full revolution might be required to bring the pawl to the locked position but with two pawls such revolution will be less than one-half, the said two pawls and single stop in this case corresponding to the single pawl and two stops in the first illustration.

These illustrations will be sufficient to show that our invention is not to be understood as limited to any particular arrangement of pawl, it only being essential that the pawl shall receive a more rapid revolution than that of the drum, whereby a suficient centrifugal force maybe imparted to it to take it out of engagement with its stationary stop.

I claim-- 1. In a suspension device, the combination of a frame, an axle, a spring-actuated drum arranged thereon, a shaft in connection with the drum, but so as to receive a revolution from the drum more rapid than that of thedrum, and a pawl hung to said shaft and so as to partake of its revolution, the said pawl adapted to swing toward and from its center of revolution, with one or more stationary stops in the path of the said pawl in its normal position, but from which stop the said pawl will swing under centrifugal force imparted to it through the shaft which carries it, substantially as described.

2. In a suspension device, the combination of a frame, a stationary axle therein, a springactuated drum on said axle, a gear-wheel on said drum revolving therewith, a vertical shaft carrying a pinion, and so that said vertical shaft receives a revolution from the drum, but more rapid than that of the drum, a pawl hung to said shaft so as to swing in a vertical plane, but so as to revolve with said shaftin a horizontal plane, and one or more stationary stops on the frame in the path of the pawl when in its normal position, substantially as described, and whereby under the rapid revolution of the shaft carrying the pawl the centrifugal force imparted to the pawl will cause it to fly outward and assume a path outside of said stop, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM E. HAMMOND. JOSEPH G. MERRIAM.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIS I. FENN, HENRY DRYHURs'r. 

